Contents

English

Etymology

non- + sense

Pronunciation

Noun

Wikipedia has an article on: Nonsense

Singular nonsense

Plural nonsenses

nonsense (plural nonsenses)

  1. Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or seem to have no meaning.
  2. An untrue statement.
    He says that I stole his computer, but that's just nonsense.
  3. Something foolish.
    • 2008, "Nick Leeson has some lessons for this collapse", Telegraph.co.uk, Oct 9, 2008
      and central banks lend vast sums against marshmallow backed securities, or other nonsenses creative bankers dreamed up.
  4. (literature) A type of poetry that contains strange or surreal ideas, as, for example, that written by Edward Lear.
  5. (biology) A damaged DNA sequence whose products are not biologically active, that is, that does nothing.

Synonyms

See WikiSaurus:nonsense

Derived terms

Terms derived from the noun "nonsense"

See also

Verb

Infinitive to nonsense

Third person singular nonsenses

Simple past nonsensed

Past participle nonsensed

Present participle nonsensing

to nonsense (third-person singular simple present nonsenses, present participle nonsensing, simple past and past participle nonsensed)

  1. To make nonsense of
    • a. 1909,, Bernard Shaw, "The Red Robe", in James Huneker ed., Dramatic Opinions and Essays by G. Bernard Shaw, volume II, page 73:
      At the Haymarket all this is nonsensed by an endeavor to steer between Mr. Stanley Weyman's rights as author of the story and the prescriptive right of the leading actor to fight popularly and heroically against heavy odds.
  2. To attempt to dismiss as nonsense.
    • 1997, "Rockies respond to whip", Denver Post, Jun 3, 1997:
      "They haven't nonsensed these workouts. They've taken them and used them very well. I didn't know how they'd respond, but they've responded."
    • 2000, Leon Garfield, Jason Cockcroft, Jack Holborn, page 131:
      Very commanding: very much 'end of this nonsensing'. Mister Fared spread his hands and shook his thin head imperceptibly, as if to say he understood
    • 2006, Sierra Leone: Petroleum Unit Calls for Auditing, AllAfrica.com, Mar 17, 2006:
      He further nonsensed press suggestions that the Petroleum Unit was set up to assist in the administration of sporting activities.
  3. (intransitive) To joke around, to waste time
    • 1963, C. F. Griffin, The Impermanence of Heroes, page 170:
      When he meant "go and get one" he said to go and get one, with no nonsensing around about "liking" to get one.

Synonyms

 

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Taxing nonsense - Winnipeg Free Press
news.google.com
Taxing nonsense

Winnipeg Free Press

... will really begin to protect our children, our streets and our fellow citizens. I am sick and tired of paying taxes for outdated, purposeless nonsense .
Google News Search: nonsense,
Mon Dec 14 03:15:51 2009